10 SUPER cheap things to do with your kids this summer

Summer is here!  Summer means all of my kiddos are home.  There are some pros and cons with this.  My kids will argue out of boredom when we spend too much time in the house. Especially if there is no structure or activities during the day. I have a huge bank of ideas I pull from all summer long.

I am always looking for things to do that are FREE or at least pretty cheap to entertain my kids.  Let me just say…I do not think it is our job to “entertain” our kids every minute of the day in the summer.  It is important for them to have time for creativity and playing on their own.  With that being said, I do plan a few activities a week for us to partake.

Top 10 Cheap Summer Activities

1.  Water balloons, water guns, water hose…some kind of water.

Water entertains kids for hours on end.  We get water guns and balloons from the $1 store and the kids run around for hours on end.  If you don’t want to spend anything, just give them a water hose and they will be in heaven.  It is the perfect cure for boredom.  They make great childhood memories and you can take a break.

2.  Bubbles.

I have a 3, 9, and 11 year old.  They all love bubbles, even if embarrassed to admit it.  I can grab one of those mega bubble containers for super cheap and they will blow them non-stop.  You can also look up a simple recipe to make your own bubble solution and that cuts costs as well.

3.  Outdoor art.

The thing I love about summer is messy indoor activities can be moved outside. I don’t have no clean up.  Paint is very inexpensive.  I buy just a few colors, they can sit on the driveway, and paint whatever their heart desires.  Sidewalk chalk is another great buy.  You can never have enough.  They get to enjoy the summer weather and use their creative skills.

4.  All the balls.

We go to Five Below and stock up on balls for summer.  Basketballs, Soccer Balls, Big Bouncy balls and Baseballs.  I send them to the back yard and they go to town.  It’s a great way to keep them active and they can be creative in making up new games to play together.

5.  Have a picnic.

It doesn’t cost anything to take lunch outside with a blanket.  It’s so simple, but kids think this is so much fun at every age.  Lunch feels special and it makes great memories.  After eating, grab some popsicles or ice cream to eat outside and it will make their day.

6. Hit up the nearest playground.

Even though I love our backyard, there is nothing like playground equipment for kids.  They love it and it’s free. Most importantly, they can get their energy out, making for a great nap-time at my house.

7.  Go on a hike.

Even if you just find a local trail, kids love to be outside and exploring.  Many times we will play “I spy” or other creative games to make it even more fun.

8.  Make something homemade.

We are going to be making our own popsicles this week.  The containers are so cheap to pick up and can be used for years on end.  I usually stick to fruit juices or look up simple recipes.

9.  Go to the library.

Our library has a variety of summer programs for kids.  We love joining the reading programs at our library and local book stores.  These reading programs usually include some kind of festival and prizes when the children complete their logs.

10.  Volunteer.

This is important for keeping kids grounded, and thinking of others instead of themselves.  We love to find ways to help out in our communities.  There are so many places you can get involved.  Do just a little research and it will change your child’s life forever.

I am looking forward to doing these activities with my boys this summer. I hope you will try them too.  No matter how young or old your kiddos are, the simplest activities seem to bring the most joy.  You don’t need to spend a fortune to make memories this summer.  Let them play independently and join in at times.  Both are important for their development.  I hope you have a fantastic summer!

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